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Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

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At least 19 records

Combining Wave Function Methods with Density Functional Theory for Excited States

Here, we review state-of-the-art electronic structure methods based both on wave function theory (WFT) and density functional theory (DFT). Strengths and limitations of both the wave function and density functional based approaches are discussed, and modern attempts to combine these two methods are presented. The challenges in modeling excited-state chemistry using both single-reference and multireference methods are described. Topics covered include background, combining density functional theory with single-configuration wave function theory, generalized Kohn–Sham (KS) theory, global hybrids, range-separated hybrids, local hybrids, using KS orbitals in many-body theory (including calculations of the self-energy and the GW approximation), Bethe–Salpeter equation, algorithms to accelerate GW calculations, combining DFT with multiconfigurational WFT, orbital-dependent correlation functionals based on multiconfigurational WFT, building multiconfigurational wave functions from KS configurations, adding correlation functionals to multiconfiguration self-consistent-field (MCSCF) energies, combining DFT with configuration-interaction singles by means of time-dependent DFT, using range separation to combine DFT with MCSCF, embedding multiconfigurational WFT in DFT, and multiconfiguration pair-density functional theory.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

A Practical Approach to Wave Function Propagation, Hopping Probabilities, and Time Steps in Surface Hopping Calculations

We compare several established approaches for propagating wave functions and calculating hopping probabilities within the fewest switches surface hopping (FSSH) algorithm for difficult cases with many electronic states and many trivial crossings. If only a single time step (Δt c ) is employed, we find that no published approach can accurately capture the dynamics correctly unless Δt c → 0 (which is not computationally feasible). If multiple time steps are employed, for a fixed classical time step (Δt c ), a robust scheme can be found for dynamically choosing quantum time steps (δt q1 and δt q2 ) and calculating hopping probabilities so that one can systematically reduce all errors and achieve maximally efficient accuracy; scattering calculations confirm that one can choose a fairly large classical time step. Furthermore, the robust scheme presented here uses both the “local diabatic” and adiabatic interpolation and thus borrows elements from both the Granucci/Persico and Meek/Levine algorithms. Our findings should be broadly applicable in the future.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

On the light-front wave functions of quarkonia

The light-front wave functions of hadrons allow us to calculate a wide range of physical observables; however, the wave functions themselves cannot be measured. We discuss recent results for quarkonia obtained in basis light-front quantization using an effective Hamiltonian with a confining model in both the transverse and longitudinal directions and with explicit one-gluon exchange. In particular, we focus on the numerical convergence of the basis expansion, as well as the asymptotic behavior of the light-front wave functions. Finally, we also illustrate that, for mesons with unequal quark masses, the maxima of the light-front wave functions depend in a non-trivial way on the valence quark-mass difference.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗

Backflow Transformations via Neural Networks for Quantum Many-Body Wave Functions

Obtaining an accurate ground state wave function is one of the great challenges in the quantum many-body problem. In this Letter, we propose a new class of wave functions, neural network backflow (NNB). Here, the backflow approach, pioneered originally by Feynman and Cohen [Phys. Rev. 102, 1189 (1956)], adds correlation to a mean-field ground state by transforming the single-particle orbitals in a configuration-dependent way. NNB uses a feed-forward neural network to learn the optimal transformation via variational Monte Carlo calculations. NNB directly dresses a mean-field state, can be systematically improved, and directly alters the sign structure of the wave function. It generalizes the standard backflow [L. F. Tocchio et al., Phys. Rev. B 78, 041101(R) (2008)], which we show how to explicitly represent as a NNB. We benchmark the NNB on Hubbard models at intermediate doping, finding that it significantly decreases the relative error, restores the symmetry of both observables and single-particle orbitals, and decreases the double-occupancy density. Finally, we illustrate interesting patterns in the weights and bias of the optimized neural network.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

Quantum simulation of molecules without fermionic encoding of the wave function

Abstract Molecular simulations generally require fermionic encoding in which fermion statistics are encoded into the qubit representation of the wave function. Recent calculations suggest that fermionic encoding of the wave function can be bypassed, leading to more efficient quantum computations. Here we show that the two-electron reduced density matrix (2-RDM) can be expressed as a unique functional of the unencoded N -qubit-particle wave function without approximation, and hence, the energy can be expressed as a functional of the 2-RDM without fermionic encoding of the wave function. In contrast to current hardware-efficient methods, the derived functional has a unique, one-to-one (and onto) mapping between the qubit-particle wave functions and 2-RDMs, which avoids the over-parametrization that can lead to optimization difficulties such as barren plateaus. An application to computing the ground-state energy and 2-RDM of H 4 is presented.

74 ATOMIC AND MOLECULAR PHYSICS↗

Solving the Trivial Crossing Problem While Preserving the Nodal Symmetry of the Wave Function

In an adiabatic mixed quantum-classical simulation, the avoided crossing of weakly coupled eigenstates can lead to unphysical discontinuities in wave function dynamics, otherwise known as the trivial crossing problem. A standard solution to the trivial crossing problem eliminates spatial discontinuities in wave function dynamics by imposing changes to the eigenstate of the wave function. In this paper, we show that this solution has the side effect of introducing transient discontinuities in the nodal symmetry of the wave function. We present an alternative solution to the trivial crossing problem that preserves both the spatial and nodal structure of the adiabatic wave function. By considering a model of exciton dynamics on conjugated polymer systems, we show that failure to preserve wave function symmetry yields exciton dynamics that depends unphysically on polymer system size. We demonstrate that our symmetry-preserving solution to the trivial crossing problem yields more realistic dynamics and can thus improve the accuracy of simulations of larger systems that are prone to the trivial crossing problem.

74 ATOMIC AND MOLECULAR PHYSICS↗

Atoms and interatomic bonding synergism inherent in molecular electronic wave functions

The chemical model of matter consists of atoms held together by bonds. The success of this model implies that the physical interactions of the electrons and nuclei in molecules combine into compound interactions that create the bonding. In the quantum mechanical description, the modified atoms in molecules and the bonding synergism are contained in the molecular electronic wave function. So far, only part of this information has been recovered from the wave function. Notably, the atoms have remained unidentified in the wave function. One reason is that conventional energy decomposition analyses formulate separate model wave functions, independent of the actual wave function, to represent “prepared atoms” and preconceived interactions and, then, intuitively catenate the parts. In the present work, the embedded modified atoms and the inherent physical synergisms between them are determined by a unified derivation entirely from the actual molecular valence space wave function. By means of a series of intrinsic orbital and configurational transformations of the wave function, the energy of formation of a molecule is additively resolved in terms of intra-atomic energy changes, interference energies, and quasi-classical, non-classical, and charge-transfer Coulombic interactions. Here, the analysis furnishes an algorithm for the quantitative resolution of the energy of formation, which enables analyses elucidating reaction energies.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Observation of a chiral wave function in the twofold-degenerate quadruple Weyl system BaPtGe

Topological states in quantum materials are defined by bulk wave functions that possess nontrivial topological invariants. While edge modes are widely presented as signatures of nontrivial topology, how bulk wave functions can manifest explicitly topological properties remains unresolved. Here, using high-resolution inelastic x-ray spectroscopy (IXS) combined with first principles calculations, we report experimental signatures of chiral wave functions in the bulk phonon spectrum of BaPtGe, which we show to host a previously undiscovered twofold-degenerate quadruple Weyl node. The chirality of the degenerate phononic wave function yields a nontrivial phonon dynamical structure factor, S(Q,ω), along high-symmetry directions, that is in excellent agreement with numerical and model calculations. Furthermore, our results establish IXS as a powerful tool to uncover topological wave functions, providing a key missing ingredient in the study of topological quantum matter.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

Quark counting, Drell-Yan West, and the pion wave function

The relation between the pion's quark distribution function, 𝑞⁡(𝑥), its light-front wave function, and the elastic charge form factor, 𝐹⁡(Δ 2 ), is explored. The square of the leading-twist pion wave function at a special probe scale, 𝜁 𝐻 , is determined using models and Poincaré covariance from realistic results for 𝑞⁡(𝑥). This wave function is then used to compute form factors with the result that the Drell-Yan-West and quark counting relationships are not satisfied. A new relationship between 𝑞⁡(𝑥) and 𝐹⁡(Δ 2 ) is proposed.

Form factors↗

Minimally entangled state preparation of localized wave functions on quantum computers

Initializing a single site of a lattice scalar field theory into an arbitrary state with support throughout the quantum register requires $O(2^{nQ})$ entangling gates on a quantum computer with $n_Q$ qubits per site. It is conceivable that instead initializing to functions that are good approximations to states may have utility in reducing the number of required entangling gates. In the case of a single site of a noninteracting scalar field theory, initializing to a symmetric exponential wave function requires $n_Q – 1$ entangling gates, the minimal number necessary to create an entangled state of all $n_Q$ qubits. This is compared with the $2^{nQ – 1} + n_Q – 3 + δ_{nQ, 1}$ required for a symmetric Gaussian wave function. In this work, we explore the initialization of one-site $(n_Q = 4)$, two-site $(n_Q = 3)$, and three-site ( n Q = 3 ) noninteracting scalar field theories with symmetric exponential wave functions using IBM's quantum simulators and quantum devices (Poughkeepsie and Tokyo). With the digitizations attainable with $n_Q = 3,4$, these tensor-product wave functions are found to have large overlap with a Gaussian wave function and provide a suitable low-noise initialization for improvement and Somma inflation. Further, in performing these simulations, we have employed a workflow that interleaves calibrations to mitigate systematic errors in production. The calibrations allow tolerance cuts on gate performance including the fidelity of the symmetrizing Hadamard gate, both in vacuum $(|\textbf{0}\gg^{\bigotimes nQ})$ and in medium ($n_Q –1$ qubits initialized to an exponential function). The results obtained in this work are relevant to systems beyond scalar field theories, such as the deuteron radial wave function, two- and three-dimensional Cartesian-space wave functions, and nonrelativistic multinucleon systems built on a localized eigenbasis.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

Exact-two-component block-localized wave function: A simple scheme for the automatic computation of relativistic ΔSCF

Block-localized wave function is a useful method for optimizing constrained determinants. In this article, we extend the generalized block-localized wave function technique to relativistic two-component framework. Optimization of excited state determinants for two-component wave functions presents a unique challenge because the excited state manifold is often quite dense with degenerate states. Furthermore, we test the degree to which certain symmetries result naturally from the ΔSCF optimization such as time reversal symmetry and symmetry with respect to the total angular momentum operator on a series of atomic systems. Variational optimizations may often break symmetry in order to lower the overall energy, just as unrestricted Hartree-Fock breaks spin symmetry. Overall, we demonstrate that time reversal symmetry is roughly maintained when using Hartree-Fock, but less so when using Kohn-Sham density functional theory. Additionally, maintaining total angular momentum symmetry appears to be system dependent and not guaranteed. Finally, we were able to trace the breaking of total angular momentum symmetry to the relaxation of core electrons.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Berry Phase and Model Wave Function in the Half-Filled Landau Level

We construct model wave functions for the half-filled Landau level parametrized by “composite fermion occupation-number configurations” in a two-dimensional momentum space, which correspond to a Fermi sea with particle-hole excitations. When these correspond to a weakly excited Fermi sea, they have a large overlap with wave functions obtained by the exact diagonalization of lowest-Landau-level electrons interacting with a Coulomb interaction, allowing exact states to be identified with quasiparticle configurations. We then formulate a many-body version of the single-particle Berry phase for adiabatic transport of a single quasiparticle around a path in momentum space, and evaluate it using a sequence of exact eigenstates in which a single quasiparticle moves incrementally. In this formulation the standard free-particle construction in terms of the overlap between “periodic parts of successive Bloch wave functions” is reinterpreted as the matrix element of a “momentum boost” operator between the full Bloch states, which becomes the matrix elements of a Girvin-MacDonald-Platzman density operator in the many-body context. Here, this allows the computation of the Berry phase for the transport of a single composite fermion around the Fermi surface. In addition to a phase contributed by the density operator, we find a phase of exactly π for this process.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

Approximate two-body generating Hamiltonian for the particle-hole Pfaffian wave function

We present two two-body Hamiltonians that approximate the exact particle-hole Pfaffian wave function with their ground states for all the system sizes where this wave function has been numerically constructed to date. The approximate wave functions have high overlap with the original and reproduce well the low-lying entanglement spectrum and structure factor. The approximate generating Hamiltonians are obtained by an optimization procedure where three to four pseudopotentials are varied in the neighbourhood of second Landau level Coulomb interaction or of a noninteracting model. They belong to a finite region in the variational space of Hamiltonians where each point approximately generates the particle-hole Pfaffian. Here we diagonalize the identified Hamiltonians for up to 20 electrons and find that for them the particle-hole Pfaffian shift appears energetically more favorable. The possibility to interpret the data in terms of composite fermions is discussed.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Collapse of neutrino wave functions under Penrose gravitational reduction

Models of spontaneous wave function collapse have been postulated to address the measurement problem in quantum mechanics. Their primary function is to convert coherent quantum superpositions into incoherent ones, with the result that macroscopic objects cannot be placed into widely separated superpositions for observably prolonged times. Many of these processes will also lead to loss of coherence in neutrino oscillations, producing observable signatures in the flavor profile of neutrinos at long travel distances. The majority of studies of neutrino oscillation coherence to date have focused on variants of the continuous state localization model, whereby an effective decoherence strength parameter is used to model the rate of coherence loss with an assumed energy dependence. Another class of collapse models that have been proposed posit connections to the configuration of gravitational field accompanying the mass distribution associated with each wave function that is in the superposition. A particularly interesting and prescriptive model is Penrose’s description of gravitational collapse which proposes a decoherence time τ determined through E g τ ∼ ℏ , where E g is a calculable function of the Newtonian gravitational potential. Here we explore application of the Penrose collapse model to neutrino oscillations, reinterpreting previous experimental limits on neutrino decoherence in terms of this model. We identify effects associated with both spatial collapse and momentum diffusion, finding that the latter is ruled out in data from the IceCube South Pole Neutrino Observatory so long as the neutrino wave packet width at production is σ ν , x ≤ 2 × 10 − 12 m . Published by the American Physical Society 2024

Astronomy & Astrophysics↗

Wave functions of multiquark hadrons from representations of the symmetry groups S n

Construction of the wave functions of multiquark hadrons by a traditional method based on the tensor products of colors, flavors, spins (and orbital) parts becomes quite complex when quark numbers grow n = 5 , 6 … 12 , as it gets difficult to satisfy the requirements of Fermi statistics. Our novel approach is focused directly on representations of the permutation symmetry generators. After showing how C 3 is manifested in the wave functions of (excited) baryons, we use it to construct the wave functions for a set of pentaquarks and hexaquarks ( n = 5 , 6 ). We also have some partial results for larger systems, with n = 9 and 12, and even beyond that as far as n = 24 . Published by the American Physical Society 2024

Miesch, Nicholas (ORCID:0000000205937535)↗

GronOR: Scalable and Accelerated Nonorthogonal Configuration Interaction for Molecular Fragment Wave Functions

GronOR is a program package for nonorthogonal configuration interaction calculations. Electronic wave functions are constructed in terms of antisymmetrized products of multiconfiguration molecular fragment wave functions. The computational complexity of the nonorthogonal methodologies implemented in GronOR applied to large molecular assemblies requires a design that takes full advantage of massively parallel supercomputer architectures and accelerator technologies. This work describes the implementation strategy and resulting performance characteristics. In addition to parallelization and acceleration, the software development strategy includes aspects of fault resiliency and heterogeneous computing. The program was designed for large-scale supercomputers but also runs effectively on small clusters and workstations for small molecular systems. GronOR is available as open source to the scientific community.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Tunable-fidelity wave functions for the ab initio description of scattering and reactions

Here, the no-core shell model (NCSM) is an ab initio method that solves the nuclear many-body problem by expanding the many-particle wave function into a (typically) harmonic oscillator basis and minimizing the energy to obtain the expansion coefficients. Extensions of the NCSM, such as its coupling with microscopic-cluster basis states, further allow for an ab initio treatment of light-ion nuclear reactions of interest for both astrophysics and nuclear technology applications. A downside of the method is the exponential scaling of the basis size with increasing number of nucleons and excitation quanta, which limits its applicability to mass A ≲ 16 nuclei, except for variants where the basis is further down-selected via some truncation scheme. We consider a basis selection method for the NCSM that was first introduced in the context of the large-scale shell model and captures the essential degrees of freedom of the nuclear wave function leading to a favorable complexity scaling for calculations and enabling ab initio reaction calculations in sd-shell nuclei. The particle configurations within the NCSM basis are ordered based on their contribution to the first moment of the Hamiltonian matrix that results from the projection onto the many-body basis. The truncation scheme then consists in retaining only the lowest-first-moment configurations, which typically contain only few many-body basis states (Slater determinants). As the energy threshold above which configurations are disregarded is increased, the size of the basis becomes an almost-continuous variable, allowing for tunable fidelity in the obtained wave functions. The resulting wave functions can then be used directly in ab initio reaction calculations. We present calculations for 7 Li and n + 12 C scattering using nucleon-nucleon interactions derived from chiral effective field theory and softened using the similarity renormalization group method. The obtained energy levels invariably demonstrate exponential convergence with the size of the basis, and we find improved convergence in scattering calculations. To demonstrate the possibilities enabled by the approach, we also present a first calculation for the scattering of neutrons from 24 Mg. The method presented in this work appears promising for future studies of nuclei with mass A > 16, opening multiple future research directions impacting both nuclear astrophysics and nuclear technology applications.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗